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May 2019

The Best Healthy Ramadan Recipes to Whip Up For Your Next Iftar

Impress the in-laws with these delicious dishes.

The best Ramadan Iftar recipes to try tonight

Thinking up new Iftar recipes night after night is no easy feat, especially if you have a revolving door of guests coming through your home during Ramadan.
In need of kitchen inspiration, we turned to one of our favourite chefs, Zahra Abdalla, whose famous book Cooking With Zahra has become our go-to guide for both traditional and modern Middle Eastern cuisine.
Here are our top two healthy and meat-free recipes – so there’s no need to make something separate for veggie guests.

Roasted Cabbage with Lemon and Tahini Sauce

Roasted cabbage with lemon and tahini sauce

“Roasted cabbage with lemon and tahini sauce is a delicious, healthy and vegan dish that I love serving at my dinner parties. I usually like to serve it with some roast chicken, or it can be served as a simple and light meal on its own,” says Zahra. “Every time I prepare this at one of my dinner parties; my guests always leave asking for the recipe.”

Ingredients: Serves 4 – 6

½ head of cabbage

Salt

Freshly ground black pepper

Olive oil

Lemon and tahini sauce:

1 cup tahini paste

2 lemons, juiced

2/3 cup water

¼ tsp chilli powder (optional)

1 tsp sea salt

Freshly ground black pepper

Garnish:
1 cup mixed sprouts, for garnish

1. Preheat oven at 200°C. Cut half a head of cabbage into 6 or 8 equal-sized wedges, cutting through the core and stem end. Arrange the wedges in a single layer on a baking sheet. Season with salt and pepper and drizzle with olive oil. Flip the cabbage wedges and do the same on the other side.

3. To make the sauce, combine the tahini paste and lemon juice in a small bowl. Slowly add the water to this, whisking until the sauce has a light, creamy consistency. Season with chilli powder, sea salt and pepper.

4. Serve the roasted cabbage on a platter and top with a drizzle of the lemon and tahini sauce, and garnish with mixed sprouts. Serve hot or cold.

Kookoo Sabzi Mixed Herb Frittata

Kookoo sabzi mixed herb frittata

“Usually this dish is fried,” explains Zahra. “However, as a healthier alternative, I bake it like a cake and slice it before serving. This dish is delicious when served hot or cold.”

Ingredients: Serves 6 – 8

8 eggs

2 cups fresh parsley, finely chopped

2 cups fresh coriander, finely chopped

1 cup fresh green onions, finely chopped

1 cup fresh chives, finely chopped

1 cup fresh dill, finely chopped

1 tbsp all-purpose flour

2 tbsp barberries (optional)

¼ cup walnuts, roughly chopped (optional)

4 tbsp olive oil

1 tsp salt

½ tsp black pepper powder

1. Preheat oven at 180°C.

2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk the eggs until well beaten. Then add parsley, coriander, green onions, chives, dill, flour, barberries, walnuts, olive oil, salt and black pepper powder, and mix well until fully combined.

3. Pour the batter into a greased ovenproof skillet or cake pan and bake for 45 minutes.

4. Remove from oven and set aside to cool. Cut into small pieces and serve with baked salmon and sabzi polo.

Cooking with Zahra by Zahra Abdalla, Motivate Publishing

August 2018

New Expansions at City Centre Sharjah and Ajman

Discover the latest shops and restaurants to arrive at your neighbourhood malls.

The best new shops and restaurants to open in Ajman and Sharjah

Two of your favourite shopping destinations just got a whole lot bigger with brand new stores, dining concepts and some unique shopping and leisure services offering everything you could need all under one roof.

Conveniently located bang in the middle of town, City Centre Ajman has been renovated and now it’s hosting new shops and restaurants – including Gazebo, Damas, Samsung, The Body Shop, Giordano, and PizzaExpress – to explore. And there are lots more openings ahead, ranging from Minutes, Jelly Belly, family-friendly eatery, Popeye’s.

On the entertainment front, VOX Cinemas and Magic Planet are now better than ever with even more entertainment options for the entire family to enjoy.

Watch all the latest movies at VOX Cinemas in Ajman

What’s more, there’s now more parking than ever before with hundreds of additional spaces to make sure customers can secure a spot. You’ll find new entrances near the anchor stores Carrefour supermarket and Centrepoint, and you can also take advantage of a valet parking service.

To top it all off, visitors will be pleased to experience a new Carrefour service that allows customers to shop all their groceries in-store and have them delivered directly to their door anywhere in Ajman.

Over in City Centre Sharjah, Nando’s, Gazebo and Chili’s are just a handful of the latest foodie favourites to open their doors within the newly revamped retail and lifestyle venue, which also includes new WC facilities, baby changing areas, prayer rooms and more parking spaces for visitors.

And film buffs of all ages will be delighted to learn that Sharjah’s first 12-screen VOX Cinemas is now open and it’s the 1st screen in the Emirate showing all the significant action and serving three different experiences: MAX, Kids, and Gold by Rhodes.

Foodie Edit: 3 Of The Best Pizza Places In The Middle East

Whether you’re partial to a deep pan, Roman-style squares or you’re a loyal thin and crispy fan, most of us can I agree on one thing – a mutual love for pizza.

One of Italy’s most famous foodie exports, the humble pie’s roots date back to 1889 when the first pizza is said to have been made to honour the Queen consort of Italy, Margherita of Savoy. Consisting of baked dough garnished with tomatoes and basil to represent the colours of the Italian flag, this foodie favourite has undoubtedly come a long way since with limitless options.

From stuffed crusts filled with melted cheese to gluten-free bases and a seemingly never-ending variety of toppings, we have tried them all to report back on the top three places for pizza fans to try across the Middle East.

California Pizza Kitchen

Serving up some of the tastiest slices in town, California Pizza Kitchen in Mall of the Emirates is a relaxed spot for all to enjoy and one of the best restaurants in Dubai to take your children.

The casual eatery is well loved for its classic Margherita (take your pick from either hand-tossed original crust or thin and crispy), but delve further into the vast menu and try the spicy chipotle chicken and fire-roasted vegetable options.

California Pizza Kitchen in Dubai

800 Degrees Neapolitan Pizza Dubai

Whipped up fresh using high-quality ingredients shipped straight from Naples, 800 Degrees Neapolitan Pizza is one of the best places to grab an authentic slice of pie.

You just cannot go wrong with a round of pizzas at this ultimate cheat-day foodie spot. We are long-time lovers of the too-tasty-to-resist super supreme pizza – an indulgent doughy bite loaded with toppings and stuffed with a melted cheese crust.

This popular American important attracts the masses, and for good reason – The Cheesecake Factory Dubai’s menu is vast, as is the restaurant space, which overlooks the snowy slopes of Ski Dubai at Mall of the Emirates. Despite the sprawling size, the décor is warm and cosy with big banquet booths, amber lighting and more than enough seating options to suit your group.

Foodie highlights (and be prepared as portions are huge) include the spicy buffalo chicken bites, crispy crab wontons, California guacamole salad, and famous factory salad, while the little ones will love the roadside sliders and mini corn dogs from the children’s menu.

There is also a glass display cabinet by the entrance displaying a seemingly never-ending array of specialty cheesecakes, so don’t even think about not sneaking in a slice – it will be well worth the calories.

The Cheesecake Factory is located at Mall of the Emirates.IHOP

As the name would suggest the International House of Pancakes (IHOP) is THE place to get a great stack of pancakes. Aside from golden pancakes topped with everything from blueberry compote to white chocolate chips, the casual eatery also serves up a broad selection of breakfast bites, juicy burgers, melted sandwiches and quesadillas. If you fancy taking the healthier route, opt for one of the fresh salads loaded with greens, grilled lean meats or the soup of the day.

While the menu is already super child-friendly, there is also a specialised kiddie section with create-a-face pancakes, mac ‘n’ cheese and chicken strips.

Chow down on some of the best slices in town at 800 Degrees Neapolitan Pizzeria Dubai. Soft, chewy and perfectly topped, the pizzas are a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.
Take your pick from three different bases (thin crust, gluten-free or our pick – original Neapolitan) and load up the fresh ingredients, which includes beef carpaccio, classic pepperoni, gourmet ricotta, and over 20 different types of veggies.

You’ll also find plenty of other options aside from cheesy pies, such as tomato and pesto burrata, homemade pasta and lamb shank.

Kids’ meal deals ring in at just AED35 and include a choice of margarita pizza, creamy penne pasta or tomato spaghetti wash down with fresh orange juice and scoop of gelato to finish the feast.

The Best Healthy Ramadan Recipes to Whip Up For Your Next Iftar

Impress the in-laws with these delicious dishes.

The best Ramadan Iftar recipes to try tonight

Thinking up new Iftar recipes night after night is no easy feat, especially if you have a revolving door of guests coming through your home during Ramadan.
In need of kitchen inspiration, we turned to one of our favourite chefs, Zahra Abdalla, whose famous book Cooking With Zahra has become our go-to guide for both traditional and modern Middle Eastern cuisine.
Here are our top two healthy and meat-free recipes – so there’s no need to make something separate for veggie guests.

Roasted Cabbage with Lemon and Tahini Sauce

Roasted cabbage with lemon and tahini sauce

“Roasted cabbage with lemon and tahini sauce is a delicious, healthy and vegan dish that I love serving at my dinner parties. I usually like to serve it with some roast chicken, or it can be served as a simple and light meal on its own,” says Zahra. “Every time I prepare this at one of my dinner parties; my guests always leave asking for the recipe.”

Ingredients: Serves 4 – 6

½ head of cabbage

Salt

Freshly ground black pepper

Olive oil

Lemon and tahini sauce:

1 cup tahini paste

2 lemons, juiced

2/3 cup water

¼ tsp chilli powder (optional)

1 tsp sea salt

Freshly ground black pepper

Garnish:
1 cup mixed sprouts, for garnish

1. Preheat oven at 200°C. Cut half a head of cabbage into 6 or 8 equal-sized wedges, cutting through the core and stem end. Arrange the wedges in a single layer on a baking sheet. Season with salt and pepper and drizzle with olive oil. Flip the cabbage wedges and do the same on the other side.

3. To make the sauce, combine the tahini paste and lemon juice in a small bowl. Slowly add the water to this, whisking until the sauce has a light, creamy consistency. Season with chilli powder, sea salt and pepper.

4. Serve the roasted cabbage on a platter and top with a drizzle of the lemon and tahini sauce, and garnish with mixed sprouts. Serve hot or cold.

Kookoo Sabzi Mixed Herb Frittata

Kookoo sabzi mixed herb frittata

“Usually this dish is fried,” explains Zahra. “However, as a healthier alternative, I bake it like a cake and slice it before serving. This dish is delicious when served hot or cold.”

Ingredients: Serves 6 – 8

8 eggs

2 cups fresh parsley, finely chopped

2 cups fresh coriander, finely chopped

1 cup fresh green onions, finely chopped

1 cup fresh chives, finely chopped

1 cup fresh dill, finely chopped

1 tbsp all-purpose flour

2 tbsp barberries (optional)

¼ cup walnuts, roughly chopped (optional)

4 tbsp olive oil

1 tsp salt

½ tsp black pepper powder

1. Preheat oven at 180°C.

2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk the eggs until well beaten. Then add parsley, coriander, green onions, chives, dill, flour, barberries, walnuts, olive oil, salt and black pepper powder, and mix well until fully combined.

3. Pour the batter into a greased ovenproof skillet or cake pan and bake for 45 minutes.

4. Remove from oven and set aside to cool. Cut into small pieces and serve with baked salmon and sabzi polo.

Cooking with Zahra by Zahra Abdalla, Motivate Publishing

August 2018

New Expansions at City Centre Sharjah and Ajman

Discover the latest shops and restaurants to arrive at your neighbourhood malls.

The best new shops and restaurants to open in Ajman and Sharjah

Two of your favourite shopping destinations just got a whole lot bigger with brand new stores, dining concepts and some unique shopping and leisure services offering everything you could need all under one roof.

Conveniently located bang in the middle of town, City Centre Ajman has been renovated and now it’s hosting new shops and restaurants – including Gazebo, Damas, Samsung, The Body Shop, Giordano, and PizzaExpress – to explore. And there are lots more openings ahead, ranging from Minutes, Jelly Belly, family-friendly eatery, Popeye’s.

On the entertainment front, VOX Cinemas and Magic Planet are now better than ever with even more entertainment options for the entire family to enjoy.

Watch all the latest movies at VOX Cinemas in Ajman

What’s more, there’s now more parking than ever before with hundreds of additional spaces to make sure customers can secure a spot. You’ll find new entrances near the anchor stores Carrefour supermarket and Centrepoint, and you can also take advantage of a valet parking service.

To top it all off, visitors will be pleased to experience a new Carrefour service that allows customers to shop all their groceries in-store and have them delivered directly to their door anywhere in Ajman.

Over in City Centre Sharjah, Nando’s, Gazebo and Chili’s are just a handful of the latest foodie favourites to open their doors within the newly revamped retail and lifestyle venue, which also includes new WC facilities, baby changing areas, prayer rooms and more parking spaces for visitors.

And film buffs of all ages will be delighted to learn that Sharjah’s first 12-screen VOX Cinemas is now open and it’s the 1st screen in the Emirate showing all the significant action and serving three different experiences: MAX, Kids, and Gold by Rhodes.

Foodie Edit: 3 Of The Best Pizza Places In The Middle East

Whether you’re partial to a deep pan, Roman-style squares or you’re a loyal thin and crispy fan, most of us can I agree on one thing – a mutual love for pizza.

One of Italy’s most famous foodie exports, the humble pie’s roots date back to 1889 when the first pizza is said to have been made to honour the Queen consort of Italy, Margherita of Savoy. Consisting of baked dough garnished with tomatoes and basil to represent the colours of the Italian flag, this foodie favourite has undoubtedly come a long way since with limitless options.

From stuffed crusts filled with melted cheese to gluten-free bases and a seemingly never-ending variety of toppings, we have tried them all to report back on the top three places for pizza fans to try across the Middle East.

California Pizza Kitchen

Serving up some of the tastiest slices in town, California Pizza Kitchen in Mall of the Emirates is a relaxed spot for all to enjoy and one of the best restaurants in Dubai to take your children.

The casual eatery is well loved for its classic Margherita (take your pick from either hand-tossed original crust or thin and crispy), but delve further into the vast menu and try the spicy chipotle chicken and fire-roasted vegetable options.

California Pizza Kitchen in Dubai

800 Degrees Neapolitan Pizza Dubai

Whipped up fresh using high-quality ingredients shipped straight from Naples, 800 Degrees Neapolitan Pizza is one of the best places to grab an authentic slice of pie.

You just cannot go wrong with a round of pizzas at this ultimate cheat-day foodie spot. We are long-time lovers of the too-tasty-to-resist super supreme pizza – an indulgent doughy bite loaded with toppings and stuffed with a melted cheese crust.

This popular American important attracts the masses, and for good reason – The Cheesecake Factory Dubai’s menu is vast, as is the restaurant space, which overlooks the snowy slopes of Ski Dubai at Mall of the Emirates. Despite the sprawling size, the décor is warm and cosy with big banquet booths, amber lighting and more than enough seating options to suit your group.

Foodie highlights (and be prepared as portions are huge) include the spicy buffalo chicken bites, crispy crab wontons, California guacamole salad, and famous factory salad, while the little ones will love the roadside sliders and mini corn dogs from the children’s menu.

There is also a glass display cabinet by the entrance displaying a seemingly never-ending array of specialty cheesecakes, so don’t even think about not sneaking in a slice – it will be well worth the calories.

The Cheesecake Factory is located at Mall of the Emirates.IHOP

As the name would suggest the International House of Pancakes (IHOP) is THE place to get a great stack of pancakes. Aside from golden pancakes topped with everything from blueberry compote to white chocolate chips, the casual eatery also serves up a broad selection of breakfast bites, juicy burgers, melted sandwiches and quesadillas. If you fancy taking the healthier route, opt for one of the fresh salads loaded with greens, grilled lean meats or the soup of the day.

While the menu is already super child-friendly, there is also a specialised kiddie section with create-a-face pancakes, mac ‘n’ cheese and chicken strips.

Chow down on some of the best slices in town at 800 Degrees Neapolitan Pizzeria Dubai. Soft, chewy and perfectly topped, the pizzas are a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.
Take your pick from three different bases (thin crust, gluten-free or our pick – original Neapolitan) and load up the fresh ingredients, which includes beef carpaccio, classic pepperoni, gourmet ricotta, and over 20 different types of veggies.

You’ll also find plenty of other options aside from cheesy pies, such as tomato and pesto burrata, homemade pasta and lamb shank.

Kids’ meal deals ring in at just AED35 and include a choice of margarita pizza, creamy penne pasta or tomato spaghetti wash down with fresh orange juice and scoop of gelato to finish the feast.